The call
Do you prefer not to take phone calls?
Do you cringe with every ring?
There's a guy somewhere in New Zealand who wished he hadn't taken a call.
He answered it, only to hear a police officer telling him the house was surrounded and that he had no choice but to walk out his front door with his hands held high.
The man obeyed the authority and carefully followed his instructions.
He stepped out the front door with arms held high to the sky.

But no one was there to greet him.
No police.
No nothing.
The police officer had dialed the wrong number!
The man waited a few moments, looked around(feeling a little silly), and then lowered his arms and walked back into his home.

Believers in Jesus have received a call that is not a wrong number.
The command from the Supreme Authority tells us we're to go to people around the globe.
There's no mistaking what Jesus called us to do(Matthew 28:19-20):
Go: Use your gifts, talents, and resources to reach out to people who don't know God's forgiveness.
Make: Come alongside people to help them become obedient, growing disciples.
Baptize: Encourage new believers to publicly proclaim their belief by being baptized.

Jesus is calling.
You're wrapped up in a comfortable lifestyle with lots of things to do.
The phone's ringing.
You may be busy and have a task list a mile long.
The phone's still ringing.

You've been called--commanded--to reach out and extend God's truth and love to people of this world.
Don't act as if Jesus dialed the wrong number.

-Tom Felten, ODJ

Matthew 28:16-20
Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit(v.19)